By Robin E. Simmons
NOW SHOWING:
NANCY DREW AND THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE
Sophia Lillis is a perfect Nancy Drew. In fact, she’s the best Drew in ages. Casting is critical here. Clearly, this film was made by people who know and care about the source material and beloved protagonist. Mid-teen Drew is a fine role model for the target audience of young girls who should find this engaging adaptation satisfying and wonderfully entertaining. The minor characters are all memorable and believable. Long-time fans of the Drew series will welcome and embrace this appealing iteration that maintains its wholesomeness along with a few nicely staged scares.
When Carson Drew’s (Sam Trammell) wife dies, he decides to leave Chicago and make a fresh start with his daughter Nancy in River Heights.
But for the 16-year-old, life in the small town is mighty dull. She longs for excitement, adventure, and the chance to make a difference.
As luck – or fate– would have it, Nancy gets that opportunity when she is asked to help solve the ghostly activity at the eerie Twin Elms mansion.
How can she explain the creaking footsteps, exploding light bulbs and the ominous creature? Is it the handiwork of high-school prankster and bully Derek Barnes? On the other hand, is it even remotely possible that the ghost of original owner Malcolm Colfax’s could be back for revenge? Recruiting her best friends George and Bess, along with local “mean girl” Helen, Nancy Drew is on the case in director Katt Shea’s nicely crafted and charming reboot (Nina Fiore wrote the lean screenplay).
NEW FOR THE HOME THEATER:
AQUAMAN
The ocean comes alive in James Wan’s action-packed adventure that spans the vast, visually breathtaking underwater world of the seven seas. Jason Momoa plays the title character and he’s so good that it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role.
Co-stars include Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren and Nicole Kidman among other notable players.
Here’s the story: The Atlantean child Orin, son to the Queen of Atlantis (Nicole Kidman), was abandoned as an infant and left to die, however, he was rescued by a kindly lighthouse keeper who adopted the boy as his own son, renaming him Arthur Curry. Able to survive the harshest depths of the ocean and on the surface world above, the child of two worlds grew to be both eventually returning to Atlantis to become their King in addition to being a founding member of the Justice League as Aquaman!
This dazzling film is an example of state-of-the-art of cinema today. It’s what movies can achieve in creating an immersive, hyper realistic big screen world of wonder. The bar has been raised very high indeed.
More than a dozen fascinating extras round-out the stunning 4K UHD transfer. And yes, there’s a peek at the much-anticipated upcoming super hero film SHAZAM. Warner Bros Home Entertainment. Recommended.
LAUREL & HARDY COLLECTION
27 Short Films From the comedy legends’ formative years (1921-1936) In a 10-Hour plus, 2-DVD set.
As a new generation of fans embrace the late-career comedy of Laurel & Hardy in the hit box office biopic Stan & Ollie, this collection film shorts – including some silent films newly restored from the original elements – capture the early years when these two comedy geniuses honed the sight gags and slapstick that propelled them to worldwide fame.
Also included are three bonus shorts– two featuring Laurel & Hardy cameos and one from producer Hal Roach – truly making this set a must-have for any and all L&H fans
DISC ONE: The Lucky Dog (1921), 45 Minutes From Hollywood (1926), Duck Soup (1927), Duck Soup (1927/French-Dutch title cards), Battle of the Century (1927), Call of the Cuckoo (1927), Slipping Wives (1927), Do Detectives Think (1927), Their Purple Moment (1928), We Faw Down (1928), Habeas Corpus (1928), Flying Elephants (1928), You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928/Long), Stolen Jools (1931/Bonus) and Mixed Nuts (1934/ Bonus).
DISC TWO: You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928/Short), The Finishing Touch (1928), Leave ‘em Laughing (1928), That’s My Wife (1929), Liberty (1929), Double Whoopee (1929), Double Whoopee (1929/Talking Version), Angora Love (1929), Big Business (1929), Blotto (1930), Be Big! (1931), Twice Two (1933), The Live Ghost (1934), Tit for Tat (1935) and On the Wrong Trek (1936/Bonus).
DVD. Scott Entertainment in association with The Film Detective.
